MEDIA RELEASE - 8 April 2026

MEDIA RELEASE - 8 April 2026

Published on 08 April 2026

O'Connell Avenue of Trees Formally Protected as Local Heritage Item

One of the Central West's most significant living war memorials has now been formally protected for future generations, with O'Connell's historic Avenue of Trees officially recognised as a Local Heritage Item.

Oberon Council welcomes the publication of the heritage listing in the NSW Government Gazette, marking the Avenue's inclusion under Schedule 5 of the Oberon Local Environmental Plan 2013.

Planted between 1925 and 1927, the Avenue was established to commemorate Australia's role in World War I. It extends along O'Connell Road from the intersection of Box Flat Road to the Fish River, within the O'Connell Heritage Conservation Area.

The heritage listing followed a Planning Proposal prepared by Oberon Council, which received strong community backing when placed on public exhibition. The level of community support clearly demonstrated how deeply valued The Avenue is. It's not just a row of trees, it's a place of memory, reflection and pride for O'Connell.

As the Avenue is located within a Classified Road Reserve, Council staff worked closely with Transport for NSW and Heritage NSW to address safety and management considerations. Council's role has been to carefully balance road safety for motorists and pedestrians with the long-term health and protection of the trees themselves. This listing gives us a clear framework to do both.

The heritage listing follows recent community commemorations marking 100 years since the Avenue was first planted, including a centenary event in O'Connell that reflected the Avenue's ongoing importance as a place of remembrance.

Historical research undertaken as part of the heritage assessment shows the Avenue's origins date back to early 1925, when the Bathurst Times reported strong local enthusiasm for the project, including working bees, fundraising events and social gatherings to support the plantings. The Desert Ash trees were selected on the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture for their hardiness and symbolic connection to World War I battlefields. The species is native to North Africa and southern Europe, regions where Australian troops fought, reinforcing the Avenue's commemorative significance.

The first stage was officially opened on 20 January 1926 by Field Marshal Lord Edmund Allenby, a senior British commander during World War I, who led Allied forces in the Middle East, including the ANZAC Light Horsemen at the famous Battle of Beersheba.

Nearly a century on, the Avenue of Trees continues to tell an important story of service, loss, resilience and community. This heritage listing ensures that story will continue to be told.

Andrew McKibbin

Mayor

Contact: Oberon Council Records & Communications Coordinator

Ph: 02 6329 8138 E: [email protected]

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